Gendered realities of climate change

October 24 was International Day of Climate Action. The Statesman brings you the following report

- DR. JAIS MERLIN P. AUGUSTINE AND MS. RAJPRIYA RAJEEV

Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern-it has become a social and economic reality that shapes the everyday lives of millions. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme weather events now threaten livelihoods across sectors. Yet, the harshest effects fall upon those least equipped to cope-the people working in the unorganised sector, where employment is informal, wages are unstable, and protection is minimal.

Among them, women workers bear a particularly heavy burden. Construction labourers, street vendors, domestic workers, garment workers, waste pickers, and daily wage earners all contribute to urban economies but remain outside the shield of formal social security systems. As the world united for International Day of Climate Action on October 24, it is important to reflect on how climate change reshapes the world of these invisible workers and what steps can be taken to safeguard their futures.

The Unequal Impact of a Global Crisis

Climate change does not affect everyone equally. Those with the least resources face the greatest risks. In the unorganised sector, daily earnings depend directly on weather stability. A sudden downpour can wash away a vendor's entire stock. Prolonged heatwaves make construction work unbearable. Flooding damages informal settlements where workers live, exposing families to unsafe water, poor sanitation, and disease.

For street vendors, climate unpredictability translates to lost business and wasted goods. Construction labourers are forced to work in high heat or heavy rain, risking injury and illness. Domestic workers walk long distances under rising temperatures to reach workplaces, while waste pickers and sanitation workers face exposure to toxins intensified by fluctuating weather patterns. In all these cases, climate change directly intersects with economic insecurity.